Washington D.C. - Part 1



After a six year hiatus, we decided it was time to visit Washington D.C. again. The Capitol Building was under renovation for many years and reopened last year. We started our journey there on Good Friday. It was a good drive on the I-95 South and made it to Washington by 10.45 a.m. Thanked our lucky stars as we found a 3 hour parking spot right outside the Capitol Building. We had tickets for the tour at 1.00 p.m. but decided to go in earlier. We were admitted to the 12.10 p.m. session. Yes!!! A great start to a great weekend.

Before the tour, we took a stroll around the Capitol Building and visited the U.S. Botanical Garden.

Car with "special" messages on the holiest and most solemn day of the Christian calendar

Reflecting Pool

A breath-taking view of the Mall outside the steps of the Capitol Building

Spring colors inside the Botanical Garden

Beautiful orange tulips outside the Botanical Garden

Rotunda @ Capitol Building

The Apotheosis of Washington - Fresco on the dome painted by Constantino Brumidi

The frieze around the base of the dome contains pictorial history of the U.S.

Visitors admiring the numerous paintings in the Rotunda

After visiting the Rotunda, I came to understand why this special hall is such a befitting place for the public to come and say their final farewell to eminent citizens and government officials. There's an unutterable feeling of awe and grandeur when you step inside the Rotunda.


The Library of Congress

The Library is connected to the Capitol Building by an underground passage, but one can also choose to access it the "normal" way i.e. from above ground :) However, the underground sounds much more fun and conjures up images from National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

Formidable arches and frescoes adorned the Library of Congress. Unfortunately, no photographs in the main research area.


Cherry Blossom Festival

Unfortunately, the Cherry Blossom Festival was a bit of a disappointment. Warm weather has rendered the sakura trees almost bare around the Basin.

Making the most of the blooms near Jefferson's Memorial

View of the Basin and the Mall

Memorials

Jefferson Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Reflecting Pool & the Mall from the Lincoln Memorial - a Forest Gump meets Jenny moment during the Peace Rally :)

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

It is not uncommon to find tokens, flowers, letters, and books left at this Memorial

Spotlight on the economy...

The Treasury

Federal Reserve Board My boss' second home.